2014-07-30

Adv Anton Alberts

The Gauteng department which has to see to the health of the residents in that province is ironically now being accused of causing people’s death due to poor service delivery and allegations of large scale corruption, adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus’ leader in Gauteng and Member of Parliament says.

In the Beeld of today (30 July), it is reported that the Gauteng department of health had spent R4,5 billion on consultants. This is more than ten times the amount that the national department of health had spent on consultants.

Mr. Brian Hlongwa, now chief whip of the ANC in Gauteng, was the responsible MEC at the helm of the health services during the time that the alleged irregularities had taken place.

Some of the allegations which are now being investigated on a high level, are the awarding of contracts to consultants as well as allegations that a deposit of R3,3 million had been used for a house for Hlongwa.

Adv. Anton Alberts says the FF Plus is shocked about the alleged abuses and agrees that it could have harmed people and probably could have caused deaths as it is well known that the Gauteng health services had been seriously curbed due to financial shortages.

“The FF Plus proposes that those who had been harmed or who have lost loved ones institute a class action against the Gauteng government and against Hlongwa personally. The FF Plus also insists that Hlongwa is removed from his position immediately.

“The ANC is however also an accessory as the precarious state of the province’s health services is well known and the government conspicuously allowed it to happen,” Adv. Alberts said.